BellSouth (BS) told N.C. Utilities Commission (NCUC) it continued...
BellSouth (BS) told N.C. Utilities Commission (NCUC) it continued to meet the 12 Sec. 271 competitive checklist points on which agency cleared carrier 3 years ago and now has fully complied with remaining 2 points on which agency flunked…
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BS in that unsuccessful bid. BellSouth made statement as NCUC opened hearings, set to run through Nov. 5, to update record in company’s interLATA long distance entry case. BS said CLEC complaints about pricing and delivery of unbundled network elements and other wholesale services went well beyond what was required of incumbent by Telecom Act. “There are seven FCC Section 271 decisions that explicitly set forth the requirements of the checklist,” said Cindy Cox, BS senior state regulatory dir. “All this commission need do in this proceeding is determine whether BellSouth meets those requirements.” She said many issues raised by CLECs in 1998 had since been addressed in arbitration cases and other dockets and no longer should be factors in 271 case. Also testifying were economists who said BellSouth’s long distance entry would benefit public through lower prices and more choices in both long distance and local exchange service. But CLEC and IXC interests said BellSouth’s long distance entry wouldn’t be boon to competition but rather would be knockout blow to competitors, already struggling due to economic downturn, because of BellSouth’s overwhelming local exchange dominance. They also contended BS still wasn’t giving them proper high-volume wholesale service and billing as required by Telecom Act. Current hearings were delayed from original May date because of similar complaints from CLECs then. NCUC also wanted to wait for operation support system (OSS) test results from other BellSouth states. BS recently received favorable OSS test report in Ga., but competitors said NCUC should wait for results of OSS testing now under way in Fla. because that program better addressed key technical issues such as BellSouth’s ability to handle large volumes of CLEC service orders. Fla. test results are due in late Dec.